Severnside CRP art scheme creates a warm welcome at Bath Spa Station

New artwork created by artist Kurda Yar and the local refugee community has been unveiled at Bath Spa Railway Station. During free workshops for families over the summer all ages were encouraged to get creative. Working to the theme ‘Our Home’, the groups played with pens, watercolours and spray bottles to make brightly coloured imagery. Kurda encouraged the groups to be inspired by what Home meant to them, whether that was the people, the food or a safe space to rest.

Over 70 pieces of artwork were made, from which Kurda selected a few standalone images, and collaged the rest to create new artworks for the permanent display.

Severnside Community Rail Partnership have worked closely with Bath Welcomes Refugees to design and facilitate the project to help to make recently settled families feel valued and that they belong to the local community.

The project has been generously supported by Great Western Railway’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund and CrossCountry Trains’ Community Fund.

OUR DECEMBER ISSUE - OUT NOW!

Keep an eye out for our fabulous December issue which features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses.

This month we've found every opportunity to celebrate the season in style – we've interviewed Father Christmas, an elf and a gnome, and we've got a portrait of Bath favourite Jon Monie as he prepares to play Lester the Jester in the panto. We've also investigated Christmas films, both classic and recently released, and have asked some local experts for their opinions. There is a fascinating feature on the thriving poetry scene in Bath and an interview with Jenni Jackson, the director of a new adaptation of Robin Hood at The Egg. We also meet the top antiques specialists in Bath and get an insight into their specialist markets. 

Every month we deliver 15,000 copies door to door, but if you don't get a copy at home then you can pick up a copy at many places around town and from our floor stands at: Waitrose, Sainsbury's [Green Park], M&S Foods in Twerton, Tesco in Weston Village, and at The Holburne Museum. 

Click here to enjoy the digital version of our current issue! 

And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £33 for 12 issues, £18 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.25. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – click here to subscribe on our website. 

Words by Melissa Blease

Pork Belly with Crackin’ Crackling and Pear and Onion Sauce

Soft, creamy pork under a blanket of crackling served with a rich, fruity sauce: this little piggy is destined to be a big hit on your festive menus this year. Leftovers? Lucky you! Serve room-temperature pork, crackling and sauce in brioche buns - and if you’ve got any sage and onion stuffing leftover from another roast, stuff that in the bun too!

Ingredients (serves 6-8)
3kg boneless, high-welfare pork belly (preferably organic), skin on
½ a nutmeg
100g rock salt
1 small bunch of fresh thyme spears
6 tbsp demerara sugar
2 pears, peeled and sliced
2 onions, peeled and sliced
200ml chicken stock

Method
Using a very sharp knife (a Stanley knife is perfect), score the skin of the pork belly with shallow cuts around 5mm apart and 3mm deep, without cutting right through to the flesh. Sprinkle with the sugar, salt, sprigs of thyme and grated nutmeg then massage the mixture into the skin. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 12 hours (or up to 24 hours).

When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 150ºC/gas mark 2, rinse the salt/sugar mixture off the pork under cold running water and pat dry with kitchen paper.

Put the pears and onions into a large roasting dish and cover with the chicken stock. Place the pork belly on top (skin side up), sprinkle with more salt, cover with foil and place in the oven for 3.5 hours.

When roasting time is up, remove the pork from the oven, carefully transfer it to a baking tray and allow it to rest for around 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium (you’ll see why at the next stage) and pour the contents of the roasting tin into a saucepan. Bring to the boil and leave to simmer gently.

When the pork has rested, slide it under the preheated grill around 15cm away from the heat until the crackling crisps up (this should take around 10-15 minutes.) Remove from under the grill, loosely cover with foil and allow to rest again for a further 15 minutes while you blitz the reduced pear, onion and stock mixture to create the Pear and Onion Sauce.

Carve the rested, crackling-topped pork belly into slices and serve with the pear and onion sauce, mashed or roast potatoes and seasonal greens.

Low & Non-Alcoholic Spirit Alternatives at The Great Wine Co.

Want to enjoy a drink his holiday season without involving alcohol? The Great Wine Company has you covered with their range of low and non-alcoholic spirit alternatives.

Spice 94, Seedlip | £23.45
Forest Non Alcoholic, Everleaf Drinks | £22.95
Dandy Smoke, Crossip | £33
Caleño Light and Zesty, Caleño Drinks | £20.45

Click here to see these and much more at The Great Wine Co.

Dos Dedos
Mexican Coffee

If you haven’t tried a Mexican Coffee, you’re missing out! Featuring our favourite agave alcohol and spiced Horchata syrup, it tastes like Christmas in a glass. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a glint in your eye.

Ingredients (makes 1)
• 25ml Vivir Tequila Añejo
• 20ml Horchata syrup
• 60ml hot coffee
• 50ml Oatly whippable cream
to make make it vegan (or use
double cream if preferred)

Horchata syrup
• 500g caster sugar
• 500ml hot water
• 6g star anise
• 6g ground nutmeg
• 15g cinnamon sticks
• 6 cloves

Method
To make the Horchata syrup, muddle the spices and add to hot water, combine with sugar, stir thoroughly and leave for 1–2 hours to infuse. Strain out solids using cheese cloth or a fine mesh sieve. Bottle and use within 4 weeks.
Build the drink in a pre-heated glass, combine all ingredients then layer cream on top. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Mixed by Dos Dedos
Edgar Mews, Bartlett Street, Bath BA1 2QZ
dosdedos.co.uk

Thatchers unveils 3 new flavours from its exclusive Cider Barn Range

Thatchers, the award-winning family-owned cider maker, has launched three exciting new additions to its exclusive Cider Barn range: Thatchers Oak-aged Redstreak (8.4% ABV), Thatchers Scrumptious (5.0% ABV), and Thatchers Heritage (6.0% ABV).

Crafted with passion and skill, the Cider Barn range celebrates Thatchers’ long-standing tradition of small-batch, experimental ciders. Made with the finest apples, each new cider in the collection highlights unique qualities, from apple variety tastes to innovative techniques and unusual blends showcasing the craft of Thatchers’ expert cider makers.

The new Cider Barn range is now available in 500ml bottles exclusively from the Thatchers Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm, online at thatcherscider.co.uk and at the Railway Inn in Sandford, priced from £2.60. The ciders make a perfect gift for cider lovers this Christmas, or a special treat for those who love to try something new.

Slim Chickens opens in Southgate today!

The wait is over as Slim Chickens, the celebrated American brand known for its hand-breaded, buttermilk-marinated tenders, crispy wings, and freshly made sandwiches, opens its 60th UK location today!

To celebrate this exciting opening, Slim Chickens is giving away 5,000 Golden Tickets with incredible prizes for its customers on the day, including the grand prize of Free Slim Chickens for a Year! Each ticket guarantees a reward, ranging from a 10% or 20% discount on future orders to a free shake or even a free meal. With so many opportunities to win, every guest leaves a winner.

slimchickens.co.uk

8 Brunel Square, Bath, BA1 1SX

Christmas gifting with Chopard at Mallory

Founded in 1860 by 24 year old Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the son of a farmer in Sonvilier, Switzerland, Chopard's innovative designs helped him gain a reputation by making watches for 19th-century nobility such as the court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. The precision and reliability of his pieces were highly sought-after qualities, and remain the foundation of the business today. Louis-Ulysse Chopard has been owned by the Scheufele family of Germany since 1963 and the brand is one of the most respected houses of highly desirable luxury items across the globe.

Indulge this holiday season with some luxurious gifts from Chopard. Here are just a few of their unique pieces.

1: Chopard Ice Cube Red Quilted Calfskin Leather Mini Bag, £765

2: Chopard Happy Hearts Mother of Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings, £3320

3: Chopard Happy Hearts Purple Silk Twill Scarf, £337

4: Chopard Ice Cube 18ct Yellow Gold Bangle, £4380

5: Chopard Il Classico Brown Leather Wallet, £254

6: Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Steel Watch, £8420

Click here to discover gifts from Chopard and more on the Mallory website

Iridescent puffy gilet from Colmar

Women's puffy gilet made from iridescent ripstop fabric with a waterproof (10,000 mm waterproof rating) and breathable (5,000 g/m2/24hrs) membrane. The soft down padding features a water-repellent and makes maintenance easy. Thanks to the stretch lining and cosy hood, this garment offers maximum comfort and is ideal both on the ski slopes and for a trendy look in the city.

Colmar | £345
Click here to buy now or explore the full Colmar Gift Guide.

The Cinema Experience for Every Location

The Leica Cine Play 1 brings the magic of cinema directly to the living room, garage, garden, or any other location. With its portable high-quality aluminium housing, outstanding design and effortless plug-and-play technology, this unique, smart mini projector transforms any environment into an impressive film setting. With up to 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness and the superior Leica Summicron lens -  the vivid picture remains rich in contrast even in bright rooms, bringing every scene to life. Enjoy your favourite content instantly and without complicated setup – whether through built-in apps or external devices, projected on a wall or screen up to 300 inches.

Click here to visit the Leica UK online store to find out more.

CHANEL lights up Christmas
and showcases a limited edition N°5

In celebration of the festive season, CHANEL Fragrance & Beauty in collaboration with Bond Street, London, switched-on the magical, festive lights on Mayfair’s Bond Street.

For the first time the festive lights, which have been a tradition for over 60 years on Bond Street, renowned for its high-end shopping, will be illuminated with an exclusive CHANEL Nº5 festive light installation. This ode to the city is a celebration of beauty and the iconic Nº5 bottle.

This holiday season, the House's most iconic fragrance is cloaked in a soft dusting of snow: a delicate veil of silk, applied by hand, which accentuates its minimalist design. Each piece is unique, an exclusive holiday creation.

Chanel | £175 (100ml)
Click here to buy the limited edition eau de parfum.

Silver Heart Necklace with 5 Birthstones
from Honey Willow

Celebrate the family of your gift recipient with a silver heart necklace set with five birthstones, to represent five loved ones.

Handmade to order with recycled sterling silver and five birthstones. The heart charm is approximately 13mm in diameter. Can be ordered with a 16 inch or 20 inch chain.

Honey Willow | £200
Click here to buy now or visit 8 Pulteney Bridge, Bath, BA2 4AX

Curated by Daniel McCabe

We like magazines that are shape shifters. I’m sure collectors with an eye on uniform bookshelf display must hate them, but they surprise and showcase the attractions of print in the digital age. INDIE is a good example, a fashion annual from Berlin that’s relatively progressive for the genre by juggling formats, with each new release looking nothing like what went before it. For its AW24 issue INDIE dives deep into analogue culture with a love letter to one of pop culture’s most iconic design relics, the vinyl record. Crafted in the format of a 12-inch sleeve, each edition is a unique collector’s item, enclosing a random vintage picture sleeved 7-inch record. | £20

magalleria.co.uk

Nosferatu
Coming to UK cinemas 1 January 2025

A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.

Directed by Robert Eggers
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bill Skarsgård, Ralph Ineson, Lily-Rose Depp, Emma Corrin, Simon McBurney

Nurry Lee: Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Other Pieces
Sunday 15 December, 2pm & 7pm

Nurry Lee is returning to Bath following her international tour performing across Europe and her two follow up performances at Carnegie Hall. This Christmas, Nurry will perform the Christmas Classic The Nutcracker alongside other classical pieces inspired by her travels abroad including the works of Gershwin.

With this performance a follow up to her previous Bath performances including the Bath Fringe Festival and her two previous concerts. With this performance in support of Motor Neurone Disease Association. A cause that is very close to Nurry's heart.

So bring the family to this amazing family event as Nurry will amaze and astound audiences this Christmas.

Buy 2 Full Price + 2 Under 18 tickets - save £25!
Click here to buy your tickets now.

The Mission Theatre, 32 Corn St, Bath BA1 1UF

Christmas with Bath Camerata
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Saturday 21 December, 6pm

Join Bath Camerata for their festive Christmas music treat, with carols old and new and some audience participation too! Conducted by new Musical Director Robert Brooks.

Tickets £15- £25 with discounts for U25s and groups of 5+.
Call Bath Box Office 01225 463362 or click here to visit the website for tickets.

St Mary's Bathwick, Darlington St, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4EB

Cinderella presented by Bath Drama
16 January 2025 - 19 January 2025

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, lived Cinderella – beautiful, kind, and loved by everyone except for her evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters, whose fashion sense is as loud as they are. Luckily, she can always count on her best friend, Buttons, to be there for her!

On the other side of the kingdom lives the dashing Prince Charming, who finds himself in a fluster as he searches for his true love, with the help of his Royal Butler, Nigel, and "Bro!" Dandini…

Will a random encounter, a Royal Ball, and a touch of magic from a Fairy Godmother change Cinderella and the Prince’s fortunes forever?

Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Rondo Theatre, Bath, BA1 6RT

Mogers Drewett Launches Foodbank & Cash Donation Collection Points

As the festive season begins, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can give back to our community. Mogers Drewett is once again setting up foodbank collection points for clients and staff to donate non-perishable goods.

 For several years, Mogers Drewett proudly supported the Genesis Trust foodbank. They are excited to team up with them again to bring aid to those who need it most.

Here’s how you can help:

• Drop off your donations: Visit their office in Bath and leave your non-perishable goods at the foodbank collection point. From canned goods to dried foods, everything you give will make a difference.
• Spread the word: Share this initiative with family, friends, and colleagues. 
• Follow their e-newsletter: For every sign up, they will continue to donate to the foodbank!

They are also accepting cash donations at each location – look out for the cash collection tins in each office.

Click here for more information.

genesistrust.org.uk

St James House, The Square, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, BA2 3BH

Purchase your copy of the superb A/W edition of Postcard from Bath

Produced every 6 months by the team at The Bath Magazine – the Autumn/Winter 24/25 edition of Postcard from Bath is now available to buy.

The ultimate, luxury guide to the city, Postcard contains the very best things to see and do in Bath, alongside editorial pieces on the city's fascinating history, architecture, culture, and so much more.

If you'd like to buy a copy for your coffee table as a keepsake  or even send someone you love a Postcard from Bath – head over to postcardmagazine.co.uk 

The price is just £10 and includes postage to any UK mainland address.

Leigh Road West, Bradford-on-Avon

Offered to let by Cobb Farr estate agents.

Leigh House Barn is an immaculately presented barn conversion nestled within a picturesque setting. This property boasts a harmonious blend of rustic charm and modern luxury, set in the sought after location of Bradford-on-Avon.

This charming home offers a welcoming gated entrance leading to the parking area for 2 vehicles. The Barn is set with a beautifully landscaped courtyard to the front. The courtyard is thoughtfully designed with shingle and paving, accentuated by ornamental planting and a small pond with a water feature, creating a tranquil outdoor space perfect for relaxation. For more outdoor space to enjoy, there is a large garden (approximately 1.5 acres) primarily made up of lawn and bordered by mature shrubs and trees, enhancing the overall privacy and natural beauty of this area. Additionally, a gym and sauna are accessible to tenants further elevating the appeal of this remarkable home. Let for a minimum term of 12 months.

Upon entering through a large wooden door with part glazing, you are greeted by an inviting kitchen adorned with stone flooring, exposed beams, and a mix of tiled and stone walls. The kitchen boasts shaker-style cabinetry in Farrow and Ball Blue Grey, complemented by high-quality appliances including a Rangemaster gas oven and Bosch dishwasher. A seamless transition leads into the open-plan lounge and dining area, where the stone flooring continues, highlighted by a vaulted ceiling and a wood-burning stove set on a stone hearth. The space is filled with natural light through large barn doors and windows overlooking the courtyard, creating an airy and warm atmosphere.

The ground floor features a beautifully designed bedroom with dual-aspect windows, exposed stone walls, and an en-suite bathroom that offers modern amenities including a large shower and stylish finishes. Adjacent to this and on the same floor there is a second bedroom an en-suite bathroom. Ascend the oak staircase to discover the hayloft bedroom, showcasing exposed stone walls and integrated wardrobes, along with a luxurious en-suite bathroom. Additional bedrooms on this level share a similar aesthetic, each equipped with en-suite facilities, ensuring comfort and privacy for family and guests alike.

Complementing the living spaces, the shared gym and sauna provide an excellent opportunity for fitness and wellness. The gym, bathed in natural light, features a wooden floor and ample space for various workout equipment including a rowing machine, running machine, bike, bench press and various weights, a leisure area offers table tennis and a football table to enjoy recreational activities. The adjacent sauna includes a shower and a separate toilet, ensuring convenience while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere.

£5,000 per month

For more images and to read through all the details click here to visit the property on the Cobb Farr website